So I called the three local dealers:

Results below:

Dealer 1: $32.78 x 2 for wipers, $34.51 for pollen filter
Dealer 2: $30.78 x 2 for wipers, $21.66 for pollen filter
Dealer 3: $39.90 TOTAL for wipers; $19.60 for pollen filter

So basically I am at a low of $59.50 and a high of $100.07 Pretty huge range if you ask me.

 

I think you should tell us who dealer #3 is!

 

Main Line

 

Thats a prettty big price differential for sure.............all markup.

Ok so there are certain overheads that need to be taken into consideration, but its not even close.

It does pay to shop around!!

 

Is that price for the complete wiper?
Recently I've just been buying the blade only which is cheaper.

Julian.

 

The following prices are from Rock Auto. It seems the cheapest you can go for both wipers and filter is $1.49 + $2.63 + $9.52 = $13.64
The most expensive is $9.22 + $10.05 + $25.79 = $45.06


2007 JAGUAR SUPER V8 4.2L V8 Supercharged : Wiper & Washer : Wiper Blade

Economy
ANCO Part # 3119 {#VCB19} 31-Series; 19" One of our most popular parts
Front Right $1.49

ANCO Part # 3124 31-Series; 24" One of our most popular parts
Front Left $2.63

Traditional Design
PENTIUS Part # PWG19A BrightVUE
Right $2.04

PENTIUS Part # PWG24A BrightVUE
Left $2.42

ANCO Part # 9124 AeroVantage; 24" (Rebate/Promotion Available!) One of our most popular parts
Front Left $4.03

ANCO Part # 9119 AeroVantage; 19" (Rebate/Promotion Available!)
Front Right $4.05

Winter
ANCO Part # 3018 Winter; 18" (Rebate/Promotion Available!) One of our most popular parts
To replace OEM blade use 9x4mm Winter Blade Hook Slot Adapter Shim (part number 48-18); Front Right $4.39

ANCO Part # 3024 Winter; 24" (Rebate/Promotion Available!)
Front Left $4.40

Beam Style
ANCO Part # A24UB Profile (Rebate/Promotion Available!)
Front Left $6.22

ANCO Part # A19UB Profile (Rebate/Promotion Available!)
Front Right $6.22

ANCO Part # C19UB Contour; 19" (Rebate/Promotion Available!)
Front Right $8.09

ANCO Part # C24UB Contour; 24" (Rebate/Promotion Available!)
Front Left $8.18

Improved Traditional Design
TRICO Part # 15190 Teflon Blade; 19" (480mm) 7mm Bayonet, 2-Screw Bayonet, 7/9mm Hook Type, 3/16" Side Lock, Pin Type Side Lock
Use original adaptor and wet arm clip.; Right $7.31

ACDELCO Part # 8124 {#89000981} All Season Plus
BLADE,WSW DRIVER SIDE; USE ORIGINAL ADAPTOR AND WET ARM CLIP, 24 IN 600 MM $9.22

ACDELCO Part # 8119 {#89000977} All Season Plus
BLADE,WSW PASSENGER SIDE; USE ORIGINAL ADAPTOR AND WET ARM CLIP, 19 IN 480 MM $9.22

TRICO Part # 15240 Teflon Blade; 24" (600mm) 9mm Hook Type, 9x4 Hook Type, 1/4" Side Lock
Use original adaptor and wet arm clip.; Left $10.05



2007 JAGUAR SUPER V8 4.2L V8 Supercharged : Heat & Air Conditioning : Cabin Air Filter
Particulate
PENTIUS Part # PHB5526 Particulate Filter
Engine VIN C $9.52

Carbon
MANN Part # CUK2950 Carbon Filter (Only 2 Remaining) $12.78

WIX Part # 49379 {#C2C6884} Carbon Filter $16.98

BOSCH Part # C3789 Carbon Filter (Only 6 Remaining)
* Stocked in outlying warehouse--shipping delayed up to 1 business days $21.99

MAHLE Part # LAK249 Carbon Filter
Activated Carbon; Height: 45mm; Outside Diameter: 202mm $25.79

 

Heima,
While that is certainly useful information, I would point-out that these are different brands of parts, not the same parts with different markup, as in the example above. The parts you list are not the same. They have varying quality, duty-levels, and many of us have preferred brands. One would not expect them to be the same price.
For instance, I don't know ANYBODY personally who would use the ANCO wiper blade. And in your own post, you made the point that you are comparing a traditional to a winter-duty, etc etc.

So what you've posted really isn't a pricing experiment. You've only listed one price for each of many differing items, with no commentary on value.

To use your statement of:
"the cheapest you can go ... is ... $13.64 The most expensive is ... $45.06"
is misleading, because it implies you are getting the same thing for those two prices. But you're NOT getting the same thing.

By the way: how long did it take you to gather all that info? :-)

 

Yes, it does pay to shop around. Different dealers have different pricing strategies, mark-up matrixes, etc. One of the more common approaches being lower prices on consumable parts: wipers, filters, bulbs, etc. offset by higher prices on actual repair parts.

Most people have a notion of what a filter or wiper blade "should" cost, even if it is a bit outdated. However, not many have the foggiest idea of what fuel tank sending unit or turn signal switch "should" cost. If the dealer (or any seller) keeps the former priced within a perceived sensible range he can go higher on the latter....and nobody will think twice about it.

Cheers
DD

 

I agree with everything you both have stated. I'd like to add something though: while shopping-around, it's also good to temper that with some loyalty. Sometimes this means educating our favorite supplier.
I think the suppliers tend to get a little jaded by people who call around and look for the cheapest price, and care nothing about anything BUT that. If a supplier could get a little bit of a re-frame on that, and see you as a buyer who will take value into consideration, he may be more willing to adjust prices for you, or in some cases even match what you;ve found elsewhere.
For instance, I am willing to pay a little more depending on the following:

_ Does he understand my request, and my vehicle? (this means that if he sees me buying an item that should've been on a recall, he tells me. Or if he sees an apparent mismatch, he comments on it. Or if I'm buying ceramic rotors and hipo brake-fluid, he suggests braided hoses.)

-How many items on my list does he stock? If he can fill the order complete, then I'll pay quite abit more than if he only has one item.

-How willing is he to find what he does NOT stock?

-Does he offer alternatives or value-based suggestions?

-How quickly will he ship, and will I receive tracking information?

-How am I treated, personally?

Each one of these things has value to me, and I'm willing to pay for that. But the vendor / supplier needs to KNOW that I am... because too many people are NOT willing to pay for that. Too many ruthless-buyers think that these things should be expected, but that they have no dollar-value attached to them.

This is part-n-parcel to my rant and distaste for the term "***********" that I see used so frequently. A business with brick-n-mortar walls and service-bays and actual inventory and factory-trained parts-specialists and technicians has MUCH higher overhead than the fat-dood sitting on his couch in his underwear processing purchase-orders and drop-shipping product. How can they be expected to compete in price? Of COURSE their prices are higher, sometimes significantly so.

The real tragedy is when a dealership fails to provide the added value that the extra $$ should buy. When they make themselves equal in service-offerings to the fat-dood with cheeto-stained fingers taking orders from his living-room all day, then why would I buy from them? I mean, if fat-dood is cheaper, and everything else is equal, then what the hell: I like Cheetos too!

 

McJaguar, I understand your point. It is eye-opening to meet someone who has had different experiences than myself, especially when in a purchasing scenario.

My mindset is, "cheapest best quality, with consideration of life expectancy versus price."

So what this means, is that I take it upon myself to do the research, do the price shopping, and purchase that which I believe to be the "best deal"

I know that this mentality is not the same for others, they would like the luxury of not having to think about the criteria for selection, and just go with trustworthy brand at a reasonable price from a good merchant.

The reason I listed what I did, is I interpreted the original posting in two ways: a comparison of the price spread between three dealers, and that the least expensive, was still pricey. (At least to me)

Yes, I am saddend that many companies that give personal attention are being overlooked by customers in favor of "the lowest price".

I would like to know if you are located in the SF Bay Area by chance? I have lived here for over 50 years. This place is expensive to live, has too much sh#t happening in the news (Occupy Oakland, Freedom Day Parade, Critical Mass, pick your favorite political protest, ridiculous government regulation, etc) and just about every resident (myself included) is a self-centered, inconsiderate assh@le.

So, finding a merchant who actually gives a sh$t about customers is rare. And believe me, when I find them I patron them, and tell others of them.

For example, there a quite possibly 20 locksmiths between my residence and the locksmith I use, 20 miles away. They cut keys right the first time. AAA Lock in Menlo Park, on El Camino near Valpariso.

I am a regular at a family restaurant 15 miles away. Kind of far to go, just for Sunday dinner, don't ya think? But the people that work there, care about the customers. Sweet Tomatoes, on Bernal in South San Jose.

The same man has been cutting my hair for over 30 years. He's a craftsman. Angelo at Angelo's & Company, on Woodminister in Oakland. 45 miles away.

Many other shops have the attitude of "so what if I treat you like crap, someone else will come along".

Because of this attitude, and the fact that quite often, I know more about what I am looking for than any store employee, I tend to shop by price alone.

With all that in mind, I have been pushing Rock Auto a lot lately. Because they seem to care, have great prices, and ship stupidly fast. I ordered a temperature sensor Friday evening. I might be receiving it today. Sent by first class (regular) mail. Returns have not been a problem either.

So for me, wiper blades will only last about 1 season, and then they have to be replaced. Sure, some might do a better job wiping the window, but I don't expect any to do more than wipe the water off. I expect some streaking, I expect some glare. I have not seen any difference between brands, so I have no motivation to spend any more than necessary.

So here is a situation: I go into a local mom&pop owned auto parts store, asking for wipers for my S Type. I have to wait to be called, then I tell the counter worker what I want. That person checks a cross reference in a book and says that I can buy brand A or brand B, but they don't stock Brand C. The counter worker says that brand A is part number AAAA and brand B is part number BBBB and points that the wiper blades are over there. So now I am on my own to go get the wipers. Oh look, brand A is out of stock, and they were the better brand. They have brand B, but the price is higher than brand A.

If I were to buy the wipers, I would have to pay a 9.75% sales tax, and guess what, I don't get a bag to take them away with. Not really a problem with wipers, but try that with a gallon of oil, an oil filter, and six spark plugs. A bag would be nice then, don't you think? Local ordinances says no bags.

So instead, I use the internet and shop online. I get to see the different brands and I can do research as to their quality and fit. The online merchant has 5 brands to choose from, and sells just the rubber bit, to the entire wiper assembly. The prices are about 20 to 40% cheaper than the mom&pop shop, there is no tax, and the goods will be delivered to me for an additional $5. Even when added up, the total is cheaper online than in store.

So what is my incentive to support the mom&pop shop? Convenience? Not if they don't have the wipers I wanted (brand A). Knowledge? The counter person only looked up what would fit. Did not provide any advice from second-hand knowledge or real-world experience. Personal service? I had to go get the wipers from the display rack. Supporting a local economy? Well, it would be a lot friendlier if the sales tax wasn't so damn high and regulation regarding bags was removed. (True, this is not the merchants fault, but they can find ways around it.)

So shopping online has its downfall as well. How much time did I spend researching? What is my time worth?

Perhaps in other parts of the US, people are different and help each other. They look out for each other, and want the best for each other. In that type of environment, you tend to be free-er with your money, you go with the flow and support local businesses, and everybody benefits.

The pricing I provided was copy, paste, edited from rock auto. Hence the diversity.

 

HEIMA, YOU SAID (OR TYPED) A MOUTHFUL! :-)

and I think I agree with every bit of it.

No, I'm not in the Bay area. I'm quite possibly as far-removed as one gets from there, in SLC.
But I'm a salesman by profession, and I try to buy the same way I sell.
Every day at work I try to find ways to add value to what I can offer, so that I don't have to be the low price. When I learn that a prospect is not willing to pay for the value I add, I ask myself if I can be the low price and still be profitable. The answer is almost always "NO", and that prospect goes in the circular-file. Why waste my time? But when they've proved willing to look at what I offer, with a mind to pay for it, then they get my full attention and treatment.
So I look for value when I buy. Obviously a price must first be competitive before the value can be considered. This is a sliding-scale, based on many factors.

I have three rules I sell (and buy) with, and none are secrets. the secret is the implementation.

but ultimately: None of us will pay extra unless we get something for it.

 

My only point was to not assume all dealers charge the same for the same part and I personally was surprised at the spread. I used to be a parts guy (in the distant past) do I thought I would call around to see what the matrix or pricing policy used by each place was.

I buy a lot of stuff from rock auto, but I am not yet familiar enough with jag to know what the "good" or "best" aftermarket brands are (I could tell you everything about land rover parts and what to use and what to avoid).

BTW nothing wrong with anco blades. I actually prefer cheaper blades as they wipe better, but don't last as long. Funny enough, I have the same view of brake pads (still mad satisfied went out of business their pads were great and cheap and were really soft so you would not get the best wear but they would not eat rotors or glaze and they stopped well).

Long story short, if you need a part from a dealer, call around to a few. I saw an add for a dealer selling parts "wholesale" over the Internet so I might ring them too. Land Rover Frisco used to do that with rovers maybe they still do.

PS still have not made it over to pick up the parts. Maybe I will order from rock auto and have them delivered.